Picnic Pirate Pursuit Race
Every year, the older students of the Ravine Yacht Club put on an end of season competition for the younger students.
The night before the event, the older students practice their nighttime navigation to hide The Loot on one of the Picnic Islands, one Loot per student boat. They must appropriately document where they hid The Loot (to be confirmed by the instructors!) and develop a riddle for the younger students to solve with waypoints.
The younger students are challenged to figure out the navigation riddle, then get on their boat and race to The Loot. The sooner they can figure out how to navigate the waypoints, the sooner they can outfit their boat and get on the water. Students slower at navigation can overcome the other students by being better at boat rigging and deploying. They must sail the older students waypointed course to get to The Loot, but it's an all-out speed race between the islands to get back to the clubhouse.
History
The event is overseen by the Club Manager as its a newer event.
25 years ago, younger student of the time Wilifred Wolf Talisker attempted to gather and move all the Loot before the race began, except for his own. This was discovered during the race, so although he "won" that year, the rules were adapted the following year to ensure monitoring sprites would alert if the Loot was moved by anyone who was not either the students placing the loot, or the proper students removing the loot.
Components and tools
The Loot: Small weighted chests, one for each student boat. The weight is heavy enough that it changes the sailing characteristics of the student boats.
Participants
Parents of the students all gather for the event. Any family problems are mostly put asside for the event.
Club Manager: on the morning of the actual race, the club manager gives a small speech to announce the beginning of the race, and reads the riddle to the students.
Older students: develop the riddle and hide the Loot
Younger students: the participants of the race
Instructors: various former students, sailors who no longer can keep up with trade due to health or injury, and retired former members, instruct and advice the older students on how to run a good riddle.
Observance
Takes place at the end of the safe sailiing season, before the waters cool and the water becomes too dangerous
Important Locations